February 18, 2026

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Resume in Geneva; Zelenskyy Slaps Sanctions on Belarus Leader

US-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks continue in Geneva. Ukraine’s Zelenskyy calls out Russia’s sincerity and sanctions Belarus’s Lukashenko. Both sides dig in despite hopes for peace.

February 18, 2026

TTAP Ends Protest Over Imran Khan’s Health, Demands Unrestricted Medical Access

The opposition alliance TTAP ended its sit-in at Parliament House but demands full access for Imran Khan's personal doctors and jail meetings with his family during Supreme Court hearings.

February 18, 2026

Supreme Court Orders Guidelines To Boost Judicial Sensitivity In Sexual Assault Cases

The Supreme Court has tasked retired Justice Aniruddha Bose with creating simple, clear guidelines for judges on handling sexual assault cases with compassion. This follows concerns over insensitive language used in a High Court order on a minor's assault. The report will be in plain language and translated into Indian languages.

February 18, 2026

Oscar-Winning Director’s Family Attacked Again in West Bank Amid Rising Tensions

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of Oscar-winning film No Other Land, says settlers attacked his family home in Masafer Yatta, West Bank. The army intervened and detained relatives. The violence follows a court ban on non-residents and ongoing land disputes.

February 18, 2026

Maharashtra Officially Withdraws Muslim Reservation in Jobs, Education

Maharashtra government scraps caste verification for Muslim reservation, effectively ending the 5% quota in government jobs and education. The ordinance granting reservation had lapsed in 2014, and this order declares the status officially.